Port Orchard man drowns while fishing in Panther Lake

NORTH MASON - A 41-year-old Port Orchard man drowned Friday night in a lake on the border of Kitsap and Mason counties after his boat began to sink.

At around 10 p.m., Anthony Asuelo and two other men went fishing in a small boat without oars or life jackets. They were using their hands to paddle when the boat started taking on water. Two swam to shore, but Asuelo disappeared under the water.

Both the Kitsap and Mason county sheriff's offices responded to a public boat launch on the Mason County side of the lake, along with Mason County Fire and Rescue. Divers from Underwater Search and Rescue volunteers were called to help.

Asuelo was found at the bottom of the lake in about 10 feet of water at 11:45 p.m. He was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Mason County Sheriff's Office.